The bike union is growing! Thanks to our increasing number of members and supporters and a whopping new grant from the Trillium Foundation, the Board of Directors is excited to announce an expanded two director model to share the growing scope of bike union activities. The two directors will work collaboratively with each other, and with volunteers, to build on our many successes since forming in May 2008. We believe that this model will better allow us to:

• Focus on community cycling issues and connect local advocacy groups across the city.
• Maintain a greater presence at City Hall (especially as the municipal election approaches).
• Promote cycling as a fun and safe recreational activity for families.
• Advocate for cycling as a legitimate component of a complete transportation network for our city.

We are extremely pleased that Executive Director, Yvonne Bambrick, will fill the role of Communications and Events Director. Yvonne is well poised to take on this task. She will continue to be the public voice of the bike union and will spend more time developing communication strategies and fun and inclusive events that promote cycling across Toronto. We look forward to Yvonne's continued and tireless energy as she plunges into this new role.

The second position, Advocacy & Operations Director is new - the successful candidate will be announced shortly.

We are extremely grateful to the Trillium Foundation for their support; in June of this year we will secure the first installment of a $98,000 grant over a two year period that will help us with membership development, staffing, special projects and some operational infrastructure development. Thank you to Board member Nic de Salaberry, Yvonne Bambrick and others, who wrote, edited, and submitted this grant on the bike union's behalf.

Save the Date! We are very pleased to announce that our second annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on June 17 at our home at the Centre for Social Innovation. Please mark your calendars - details will be forthcoming. This is a MEMBERS ONLY event. If you are unsure if you are a member, contact Moe Berrigan at database@bikeunion.to.

The most exciting day of the past couple months was undoubtedly April 20th. Although I was inside a Committee room at City Hall on a gorgeous sunny afternoon, it was for all the right reasons. Following deputations from passionate advocates, myself included, I watched the two cycling related items (Transportation staff proposals for the 2010 Bikeway Network Improvements, and the Public Bikes Program) be debated at length by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee members and visiting councillors. Believe it or not, there was even a counter proposal for a whole other set of improvements to existing bike lanes from none other than 'War on car' Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong! Although it was simply a diversionary tactic in an attempt to derail staff recommendations, it was certainly an interesting curve ball.

Both items were passed successfully at the PWIC and the final votes took place at City Council on May 11/12. The Public Bikes Program was approved 33-8 on May 11th! Unfortunately however, although the 2010 Bikeway Network proposal was voted in with a majority of 26-2 on May 12th, the University Ave. pilot project was not included in the package due to voting complications that I explain in another item below. Mostly good news of course, but shaded with disappointment.

Here are a few other things that have taken place recently...

• We have a new feedback mechanism on our website for cyclists who wish to share ideas.
• On your behalf I gave deputations at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in favour of the proposed Public Bike System, and the Bikeway Network improvements - in addition my proposal for several other lanes and intersection improvements were referred to staff for consideration.
• You rose to the occasion when I sent you Action Alerts regarding the Public Bike Program being in jeopardy and we rescued Bixi-Toronto.
• We were successful in our campaign to have bike related items added to the city's new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw thanks to our partnership with Alan Heisey, fruitful meetings with Planning staff, and well-received deputations at the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee meetings, and at the April 21st Planning and Growth Management Committee.
• I successfully navigated the mid-April media frenzy — 35 interviews in the past 4 weeks, including a live debate/smackdown with Mayoral candidate Georgio Mammoliti.
• I was asked to write a guest blog post on the Toronto Board of Trade's election site which has been well-reviewed.
• The organisers of the YMCA Speaker Series asked me to participate as a panelist on their Transportation discussion on May 5th alongside Councillor Adam Giambrone, Leslie Woo from Metrolinx, and Paul Bedford, former Chief Planner for the City of Toronto.
• Our application to Live Green Toronto for the funding of our Bicycle Service Station was successful and we are rolling out this big outreach project as of May 30th!
• Our Valet Bike Parking & Service station at the Green Living Show in late April was very well-received!

As always, there's surely more that I'm forgetting - busy times for cycling advocacy in Toronto, and no signs of a slow down any time soon!!

In closing, I'd like to tell you that it has been an absolute pleasure serving you for the past 15 months as our first Executive Director and I look forward to keeping you updated in my new role as the Director of Communications & Events.

In February of this year, the bike union learned that the future of the public bike program was uncertain — in fact, it was hanging on for dear life! We alerted you, our members and supporters, to this fact, and encouraged you to write letters of support to your councillors, Mayor Miller, and city staff, and we made a few phone calls ourselves. Because of our collective effort and the power of the arguments in favour of this exciting and important extension of the public transit system, public bikes were put back on the table.

When public bikes were on the agenda at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) meeting in April, we called on you a second time to take action to ensure that the public bike program was supported. Once again, you pulled through and the PWIC voted unanimously in favour of Transportation Staff's proposal. Thank you!

The final hurdle took place at the May 11th City Council meeting where our Councillors and Mayor Miller voted 33-8 in favour of the Public Bikes Program!!! This is a huge win for the bike union, and for the City of Toronto - we can all take pride in this success! Please note that the following Councillors voted against this program: Paul Ainslie, Mike Del Grande, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata, and Case Ootes.

Well folks, the vote that took place at 9:45pm on May 12th was an extraordinarily disappointing finale to the day's unexpected extended session of city council. The Good news - Transportation staff's 2010 Bikeway Network Improvements were voted in with a huge majority of 26-2.

However, the EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING disappointment is that the University Ave. pilot project was taken out of the list of projects with a vote of 15-13 because it seems that Councillor Paula Fletcher was not paying attention during the vote and mistakenly voted FOR the removal of University Ave.

Although misvotes like this were retaken a second time at least twice in council earlier in the day, a re-vote was not possible in this case because of a rule that says 'no re-vote can take place if it will affect the outcome'. Had Fletcher voted as she'd intended AGAINST the removal of the University Ave. pilot project - we'd have had a 14-14 tie and the project would have passed. A sad day indeed given how close we got, in particular when you consider that there was barely quorum with only 28 of 44 councillors actually present by the time this vote happened at around 9:45pm.

If you consider both cycling items together, there is more to be happy about than not. We got the support of council to move ahead with the Public Bikes Program in the Spring of 2011, and we had a large majority show support for the rest of the proposed bike infrastructure. But to lose an innovative project like University Ave. because of a tiny technical mistake is such a letdown... Maybe next year, eh?

On Tuesday, May 18, NDP Transit critic Cheri DiNovo will introduce a private members bill requiring vehicle drivers to give at least 3-feet of clearance when passing. So-called “3-foot laws” have been passed in more than ten U.S. states, and go a long way in educating drivers and making cycling safer in both urban and rural settings.

Cyclists and friends are invited to join in the launch of this Bill at Queen's Park on Tuesday, May 18:

9:30am — Rally for Safe Cycling, Front Lawn of Ontario legislature.

10:00am — Media conference. Queen's Park Media Studio.

Contact Cheri DiNovo here: 416-325-0244 or dinovo-qp@ndp.on.ca

You met Moe Berrigan in our last newsletter, introduced as our volunteer Membership Coordinator. Now, through the YMCA's Youth Eco-Internship Program, we are fortunate to have her full-time for a paid 6 month internship. This is a much needed role as our members (you!) are so important in the process of creating a cycle-friendly Toronto. She will largely be focusing on membership relations, outreach and fundraising strategies. If you're unsure if you are a member, if you'd like to become one, or if you'd like to offer up any suggestions on how best to involve the membership, send her a friendly note at: Moe Berrigan database@bikeunion.to

When we went to Washington D.C., it hit home how the bike union is part of a much broader community of cycling advocates.

This past March, Heather McDonald and Yvonne Bambrick traveled to the National Bike Summit in Washington to accept an award on behalf of the Partnership for Integration and Sustainable Transportation, a joint project of CultureLink and the Toronto Cyclists Union. The partnership was recognized by the Alliance for Biking and Walking as being the most innovative advocacy campaign in both the US and Canada, for its steps to engage newcomers in cycling and cycling advocacy.

It was a great experience to be around fellow cycling advocates, get inspired by winning campaigns elsewhere, and get positive feedback about work being done in our community.

We give our heartfelt thanks to Ajith, Barbora, Erica, Francisco, Ibrahim, Kristin, and Rick for their continuing tremendous contributions to the partnership, and to both the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Toronto Community Foundation for their financial support.

This summer, stop in for a chat with the Bike Union and receive a quick safety check from one of Toronto's many excellent bike mechanics when you see our bright orange tent. The Bicycle Service Station will rotate throughout various high bicycle traffic areas across the city, providing us the opportunity to give back to the cycling community while sharing important information with passersby.

The Bicycle Service Station will be our key outreach strategy for the 2010 cycling season. With this project, we will a) engage the community in cycling advocacy, especially as the Toronto election approaches, b) increase ridership by directly promoting cycling as an efficient, healthy, and green transportation option, c) increase the visibility of the Toronto Cyclists Union and partners, and d) grow our membership.

We are looking for cycle-savvy volunteers to help us out this summer too — more details here.

Do you want to make your next event bike-friendly? Tired of bikes locked to trees and generally cluttering up the entrance to your event? Then contact us for our Valet Bike Parking service! Cyclists LOVE it, for the novelty and the knowledge that their bike will be safe and secure, and it makes you look very good for very little. Advertising free Valet Bike Parking for your patrons adds a little extra something for their money, and you will benefit from cross promotion on our end. It's also a great way to give back to the bike union, as all of our earned revenue supports our advocacy work. We have performed this service for all sizes of events and operate on a sliding scale.

Contact Craig Barnes, Valet Bike Parking Coordinator for more information: craig@bikeunion.to

• Construction zones — Remember that when it's in your best interest to do so, you have the right to take the full lane. When approaching a construction zone, trying to squeeze in between pylons and the edge of streetcar tracks is unsafe. Instead, signal your desire to change lanes, shoulder check, signal again and take a safe position in the centre of the path when the way is clear. And remember to take those streetcar tracks at an ANGLE! Ignore honking drivers. YOUR safety is what matters.
• Ticketing — Cyclists are subject to the same rules of the roads and tickets for infractions as drivers. Please consider your habits and refer to this recent post about the variety of expensive tickets that could be yours should you choose to disregard the rules of the road (and get caught...).
• Theft — Igor may be out of business but bikes are still an easy target for theft. It'll cost you more to replace a bike than to invest in a good quality lock! Check out this recent article in NOW mag. Quick tips: As Eric of Curbside says, “Never buy a cable lock — it's like locking your house with a screen door.” Unless you absolutely need them, do not use quick release on your wheels. The bigger a gap you leave when locking, the more likely your U-lock can be busted open with a bit of torque. Julia saw a bike parked in front of MEC covered in red paint with a slashed seat and with the serial number painted across the top frame. It was terribly ugly and she presumes an awfully expensive bike... but it no longer looked like one that could be quickly stolen and swapped. Extreme times may call for extreme measures.

Fundraiser? Check. T-shirts? Check. 1,200 square feet of repair and social space? Check check. Less than a year after a few friends sat down over beers and sketched out their dream DIY space, BikeSauce opened its doors in the East End, just last month.

Bike Sauce is not your typical Do-it-Yourself bike center. When you walk into Bike Sauce, the first thing you'll notice is a large seating area. Conceived initially to make the space less intimidating for people uncomfortable in a repair facility, Bike Sauce's social space also has the potential to be an anchor for advocacy initiatives. Bike Sauce organizes its own advocacy projects through the space — like the Ward 30 bike committee, an arm of the Toronto Cyclists Union's Ward Advocacy Program — and also hopes individuals and groups will utilize it for their own community activities. Adjacent to the social space is a PWYC repair facility where volunteers provide guidance to new users. All volunteer run, BikeSauce's activities would not be the success that they are without a large base of committed volunteers. BikeSauce will be running volunteer training workshops, but you don't have to wait to get involved. For more information, check out http://bikesauce.org or e-mail Allyson at info@bikesauce.org. 'Sauce is located at 717 Queen Street East, at the intersection of Broadview and Queen.

MAY

• Sunday, May 16th — Bells on Bloor Pancake Breakfast
  9: 30 AM - 1 PM 6:30 PM - $20 at door
  42 Howland Avenue, backyard (NE Bloor/Bathurst)
  albertkoehl@sympatico.ca
  
  You Get: Pancakes from our secret Bavarian recipe (gluten-free by request), pure maple syrup, organic coffee, orange juice, real cutlery in a beautiful backyard setting and the knowledge that 100% of your money will be dedicated to the annual Bells on Bloor bike parade in support of bike lanes.
  
• Monday May 17 — Sharing the Streets: Bikes, Cars and People.
  7:00 PM, Toronto Reference Library
  Toronto Public Library event
  Bikes, cars, and pedestrians seem to be finding it increasingly difficult to coexist peacefully on Toronto's streets. Join our panel as they discuss the problem of sharing the streets, and what can be done to solve it.
  Panel: Toronto Star Urban Affairs columnist Christopher Hume moderates a panel of experts, including Gil Penalosa (8-80 Cities), Fiona Chapman (City of Toronto Pedestrian Projects), Ellen Greenwood (Moore Park Residents Association), and Yvonne Bambrick (Toronto Cyclists Union); Moderator: Christopher Hume, Toronto Star
  
• Thursday May 20th — Toronto Cyclists Union presents SPIN by Evalyn Perry
  8:30 PM
  $15 / $12 for Bike Union members
  Tranzac Club (Facebook event listing)
  
  Part concert, part theatrical performance, 100% outspoken entertainment, SPIN is an inventive musical show using the bicycle as a musical instrument.
  
• Monday May 25th (10am) or Wednesday May 26th (6pm) — Volunteer Training for the Bicycle Service Station
  215 Spadina Ave. @ the Centre for Social Innovation
  
  We need dedicated cycle-savvy volunteers who can commit to three shifts over 4 months, starting this June, to work our outreach project, the Bicycle Service Station. Volunteers must attend one of these two training sessions. If you're interested in volunteering, contact Moe Berrigan, Membership Coordinator database@bikeunion.to.
  
• Saturday May 29th — Bells on Bloor Musical Bike Parade
  12 Noon - High Park
  
  Join Toronto's biggest pedal-powered parade in a musical ride along Bloor Street! Bring musical instruments, receive a free bell and bike your bike sing. This event is for everyone and anyone who cares about bikes, the environment, happy, healthy communities, and safe, equitable transportation alternatives.
  
  The bike union is a co-sponsor of this event and we're looking for Bike Marshal volunteers to help with the ride. Contact yvonne@bikeunion.to
  

JUNE

• Thursday June 3rd — Kenk: Community Discussion Around Bike Theft
  8:00 PM
  $5 / Free for Bike Union members
  Cinecycle (venue may change - please register here)
  
  A moderated community discussion forum around bicycle theft in Toronto, tied-in with the release of KENK: A Graphic Portrait.
  
  Panelists: Richard Poplak (Writer, KENK: A Graphic Portrait), Yvonne Bambrick (Toronto Cyclists Union), Eric Kamphof (Curbside Cycle), Herb van den Dool (IBikeTO.ca) Moderator: Richard Goddard (CBC)
  
• Friday June 4th — Diverse Bicycle City: Launch of the Toronto Cyclists Handbook in 17 Languages
  6:30 PM - Free
  75 Lansdowne Avenue, Parkdale Community Recreation Centre
  416-588-6288 x 229
  www.bikeunion.to/partnership
  
  The Partners for Integration and Sustainable Transportation, a joint project of CultureLink Settlement Services and the Toronto Cyclists Union, proudly launches the Toronto Cyclists Handbook in 17 languages. Join us for this free intercultural celebration and help send a message that newcomers & established locals alike want a green, healthy, liveable, and bike-friendly city! Young and old, there's something for you: performances, information, guest speakers, exhibits, snacks.
  
  For childcare please contact us by May 31 to reserve your child's spot at 416-588-6288 x229 or cycling@culturelink.net.
  
• Sunday June 9th — East End Cycling Advocacy Meeting
  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  850 Coxwell Ave, East York Civic Center
  
  If you live and ride in the East End, come by for a community meeting to discuss new ward-based cycling Groups, civic engagement, and Bike Lanes on Bloor-Danforth.
  
• Monday June 10th — Etobicoke Cyclists Meeting
  6:00 PM
  399 The West Mall, Etobicoke Civic Centre
  416-840-0114
  
  Do you ride your bike in Etobicoke? Drop by to meet like-minded cyclists who want to compile suggestions for the City of Toronto, on how Etobicoke could be improved for cycling, anywhere from bike lanes to curb cuts, to the basics like where there are potholes that need to be fixed.
  
• Wednesday June 12th — Brickworks Cruiser Ride & Picnic
  5:00 PM - Family Friendly - Weather permitting
  Free, registration required
  Facebook event
  
  Join the Toronto Cyclists Union and Evergreen on our leisurely cruiser ride along the Don River and enjoy live acoustic music and an evening BYOPicnic at the beautiful Evergreen Brickworks site.
  
• Saturday June 15th — North York Cyclists Meeting
  6:00 PM
  5100 Yonge Street, North York Civic Centre Council Chambers
  ronhart@sympatico.ca
  
  We will start with an opportunity to mingle with other cyclists, followed by a discussion on strategies to assist in the design and implementation of North York infrastructure projects. The Finch Hydro Corridor, Leaside Rail/Trail, Transit City, and Lawrence East bike lanes are some of the projects currently in the works.
  
• Monday June 17th — Toronto Cyclists Union AGM (Members only)
  6PM - Save the Date - 215 Spadina Ave. Suite 120
  More details to follow via email.
  
• Sunday June 23rd — Scarborough Cyclists Meeting
  6:00 PM
  1470 Midland Avenue, Scarborough Fair Condominiums
  416-288-0293
  
  Do you ride your bike in Scarborough? Come meet like-minded cyclists who want to compile suggestions for the City of Toronto on how Scarborough could be improved for cycling. Ideas could include everything from bike lanes to curb cuts, to the basics like where there are potholes that need to be fixed.
  

More events can be found anytime on...

• The City of Toronto's Bike Month Calendar
• Our joint Cycling community calendar